PE Exam California – FE Exam
The sudden failure of the St. Francis Dam in northern Los Angeles County on March 12, 1928, led to millions of dollars in property damage and hundreds of lost lives. An inspection uncovered that the dam was built on and anchored to a weak and faulted rock formation. This prompted Legislature to conclude that the unregulated design of construction projects constituted a hazard to the public. At that point, laws were passed to regulate civil engineering, leading to the creation of the Board of registration for Civil Engineers.
It ensures that people who are entering these practices must be able to meet the minimum standards of competency (including passing the FE Exam), and maintain such standards during their practice. The Board makes final licensing decisions and penalize those who violate the licensing laws.
The California State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors will have all the information concerning how to become a Professional Engineer in California, FE Exam dates and Cost.

Board Contact Information:
Website | www.pels.ca.gov |
Name | David E. Brown |
[email protected] | |
Phone | (866) 780-5370 |
Fax | (916) 263-2221 |
Address | 2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 300 Sacramento, CA 95833-2944 |
Fee Schedule:
Fee for FE/EIT exam application | $100 |
Fee for FE/EIT exam | $0 |
Fee for FE re-exam | $100 |
Fee for EIT certification | $0 |
Fee for EIT certification by comity or transfer of EIT | $100 |
Fee for EIT renewal | $0 |
Frequency of EIT renewal | N/A |
When can I take the Engineer in Training exam? If you are enrolled in an EAC/ABET accredited engineer program, you can take the exam in your last year before graduating.
What educational programs are accepted for taking the Engineer in Training exam? Any EAC/ABET, TAC/ABET, ASAC/ABET or Non EAC/ABET, TAC/ABET, ASAC/ABET accredited engineering, engineering technology, or related science program. However, further education and/or experience may be required prior to taking the PE exam if you graduate from a program other than EAC/ABET. See the Boards website for details.
Are there any programs equivalent to EAC/ABET accepted for taking the Engineer in Training exam? Yes, programs either accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board.
Are there any programs equivalent to TAC/ABET accepted for taking the Engineer in Training exam? Yes, programs either accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board.
Does the Board accept equivalent Foreign Education? Not specified, see Boards website for further details.
What are acceptable Foreign Evaluation systems: Not specified, see Boards website for further details.
When in the licensing process is an applicant required to obtain a foreign degree evaluation? Not specified, see Boards website for further details.
What terms are restricted in their usage in the state? Variations of “engineer” (e.g., registered engineer, licensed engineer) and Professional engineer.
How does state license Engineers? As a discipline-specific engineer, restricted to practice in a specific field, which is usually the discipline of the professional examination taken for licensure
Have further questions? Check the Frequently Asked Questions or visit www.pels.ca.gov to get the most up to date information.